Michalek’s Late Score Gives Sharks 2-1 Win

(Chicago, IL) Nothing makes the road trip as much as a win. Sharks winger Milan Michalek and goaltender Evgeni Nabakov stood out in a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center tonight.

Milan Michalek is congratulated by teammates after his second power play goal

It was a tense game for the Sharks fans in attendance. Despite outshooting the Hawks by a wide margin throughout the game, it wasn’t until there were only 3 1/2 minutes left before Michalek scored the game-winner. San Jose dominated play, using its size to control the puck along the boards, winning physical battles. And yet, the Hawks led after one period. The game could have gone either way until Michaluk put it away.

I prefer laughers, but a tight game that ends in a win is big fun. Having witnessed losses in my last two Sharks road games (Game 2 in the playoffs at Nashville, and a 3-0 sleepy loss in Columbus), any win is a welcome thing.There were plenty of Sharks fans thoughout the United Center, including a college student from Indianapolis’ Butler University sitting right next to me. Very enjoyable rooting for the Sharks with Jeff, and talking hockey in breaks in the action. Lots of friendly folks wearing teal circulating in the corridors between periods, and fun chatting.

I took an interest in seeing the kind of San Jose gear being worn by other fans. Many had jerseys customized with Joe Thornton’s name and number. Surprisingly, the next most popular was #26 and Steve Bernier. I seemed to have the only Cheechoo. There were also a handful of Marleau jerseys. No familiar names from the past, like Nolan or Ricci, as I always seem to see in Columbus.

I’m no fan of the new uniforms, so it was gratifying to see so few of them. In fact, one fan wore last season’s black 3rd jersey- get this- customized with ‘Roenick’ on the back, and the #27. Roenick didn’t play for the Sharks last season, of course. She told me she’s a big fan of JR, but no fan of hte new uni’s. We both share the hope that this thing will prove unpopular, and like New Coke, will be replaced with one of the previous designs.

More brief observations:

The Blackhawks really are a poor draw. If the attendence is listed higher than 10,000 it won’t be due to actual fans in seats. It was astonishing to see so many seats open.

Look at all those empty seats!

Roenick still holds a place in the hearts of Chicago fans. Several wore red jerseys with Roenicks name and #27. JR flipped several pucks over the glass in the direction of younger Hawks fans during the pre-game skate. He came to the glass to smile and wink at a Sharks fan with a sign reading “JR, you look good in teal!” Some fans booed when he touched the puck in the first period, but that didn’t last beyond his second shift.

JR scans the crowd, pre-game

Chicago has a talented rookie in Jon Toews, who scored his first NHL goal on a great shot over Nabokov’s shoulder. There was a general buzz about him. The Hawks have some young talent, but they are a small team, especially compared to the Sharks. San Jose players were unmoved when hit by the guys in red, and they pushed the Hawks around when initiating the contact.

The Sharks top power play unit hasn’t learned the lessons from last season’s playoffs. Joe Thornton held the puck endlessly, looking for the perfect pass, with play often resulting in the Hawks clearing the zone and without a San Jose shot on goal. The #2 unit got out there, shot the puck on net, created traffic in front of Chicago netminder Nikolai Khabibulin, and scored twice. Ron Wilson needs to crack out the film for study.

First game for Rob Davison, as Doug Murray was a healthy scratch. Looks like these two are on the platoon for the #6 ‘d’ spot. Davison looked sharp, and it was no surprise that he found Marty Lapointe to drop the gloves with, as I’m sure Davison is working to impress so he can stay in the lineup.

First game also for Curtis Brown. He looked to be right at home on the penalty kill with Mike Grier once again.

Matt Carle made two large mistakes on one play. He took a penalty when he held Toews, who had a clear path to the net. Problem was, his hold wasn’t very effective- Toews scored anyway. Former Blackhawk and minor league coach Rick Paterson had a great saying about situations ike this. “If you’re going to make a mistake, make it with authority”. Carle would have done well to simply take Toews down, letting the penalty kill do its’ work.

That’s nitpicking, though. The Sharks won, and sit in a first place tie with Anaheim despite playing two fewer games, all without having played at home yet.

Next Midwest road trip dates:

@ Detroit, Friday, Oct 26, 7:30pm Eastern
@ Columbus, Saturday, Oct 27, 5:30pm Eastern

Ready For The Hawks!

I’m ready to see this game, and after the pasting in Colorado the other night, I suspect the Sharks will be ready to play the Blackhawks Wednesday night.

It’s been about six years since I caught a game at the United Center. That one was more interesting than you might have suspected. Hawks-Preds, when Nashville was a very new team. Neither team had much going for it.

I love the Chicago fans. They’re loud and obnoxious, which is another way of saying, ‘passionate’. Alexei Zhamnov was widely perceived as an underachiever by the faithful, and one fan in particular took great delight in bellowing each time #11 in white took a shift, “Zhamnov, get off the ice!” He was unbelievably loud- you could hear his voice echo throughout the lower sections. His eyes and veins in his temples bulged, his face turning red. He meant it, but he was going to have fun with it.

As I recall it, Zhamnov had several lackluster shifts in the first period, making the fan’s call funnier and funnier. He was so agitated when the Russian skated offside, and then shot wide of the net. Then Zhmanov scored a goal. All the fans in rows below looked back at the fan, who had been standing each shift to holler. He shrugged his shoulders and then yelled, “I still want you off the ice Zhamnov!” More laughter.

Then in the second period, Zhamnov scored his second of the night. The man was flabbergasted. He actually broke down laughing in the middle of “I still want you off… bwaahahaha!” Everybody was really having a blast.

Before the period was out, Zhamnov completed the hat trick. Nobody on this side of the arena was throwing a hat. They were looking at this fan, waiting to see if he was eating his. He was incredibly flustered. He waved his hands in a curious disgusted delight, and there were huge laughs.

It seemed to sum up the Hawks that season: A fan can’t even enjoy the misery. Somehow, the team would screw that up, too.

It’s hard to know what to expect from Chicago this time around. It’s still early in the season when hope springs eternal, but Martin Havlat is hurt already. David Koci would get fans out of their seats, but the Sharks don’t have a legitimate heavy to square up with him. That’s probably the only area where the Blackhawks seem to have an edge. Let’s hope the Sharks don’t play down to the competition, and really ring ’em up!

See you there!

Chicago Road Trip

Alright, Midwest Sharks fans! The first road trip opportunity of the year comes early, with a Wednesday, October 10 date at the United Center facing the Chicago Blackhawks.

If you are a Shark fan living in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Indiana, or even some parts of Missouri or Kentucky, it’s a reasonable drive for a game. Tickets are reasonably easy to get, too.

You’ll be able to find me in Section 102, Row 11. I’ll be wearing my 2006-07 white road “Cheechoo” jersey. If you go, be sure to look for me! We’ll have a beverage together and toast a San Jose victory! 

Decent Start

The regular season is underway, with the Sharks taking 3 of 4 possible standings points in dropping a 3-2 shootout decision in the opener at Edmonton, then coming back for a 3-1 win at Vancouver. Next up: tonight, a strong Colorado team; then Wednesday in Chicago against a Blackhawks squad that came back from a 3-1 deficit to edge the Wings in a shootout, 4-3. Have to respect teams that come back against the Wings, right?

Biggest surprise thus far are the two goals Jeremy Roenick scored against the Canucks. Maybe GM Doug Wilson knew what he was doing in signing JR after all. Doug Murray is making the most of his ice time, with a couple of assists, a +3 rating, and a fight in defence of Torrey Mitchell.

 Nice to see the Ducks struggle, too!